U.S.-backed President Guillermo Endara, promising "peace and justice in Panama," is moving to establish his government by organizing a new national police force and making his first handful of appointments.
Under heavy U.S. guard, Endara and his two vice presidents met Thursday with members of the national legislative assembly. Later, he said he hoped to organize a new police force to take over within a month from U.S. military forces."I think we can lift up the country and do our duty in making peace and quiet in Panama," Endara said in a telephone interview with ABC's "Nightline" program Thursday.
"I hope in a month we can put up a police force, a public force good enough to keep peace and order in all Panama. And then the U.S. forces would leave according to what Mr. Bush promised us," Endara said.
In Washington, President Bush told reporters on Thursday, "I'm pleased that the Endara government is taking charge, and they made several appointments today - starting to govern the country."
Endara said he talked to Bush by phone and asked him for immediate emergency help in "food and medicine for those who are injured, hungry and sick." He said he was told aid was coming.
Gunshots echoed in the streets outside as Endara - making his first appearance since he was sworn in early Wednesday - and Vice Presidents Ricardo Arias Calderon and Guillermo Ford presided over the legislative meeting. Sprinkled through the audience were U.S. soldiers who wore jeans, sweatshirts and other civilian clothes at the request of Panamanian officials who sought to avoid the image of heavy U.S. control.
Speaking to the legislative assembly, Endara held out an olive branch to Noriega's followers and said he would welcome back members of Noriega's defense forces "who can show they support our democracy."
But he said on ABC that in organizing his new police force, he would rely on officers "that were not implicated in any kind of corruption, officers who were not implicated in any kind of beating of the people."
Endara asked Panamanian exiles to return because "the military dictatorship has fallen."